12 Tricks to Potty Training Victory

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Your youngster will ditch the diapers in no time with these potty training tips.

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1. Pick the Right Time to Start

Want a smooth start to potty training? Wait to begin toilet training until you are available to dedicate time and energy to help your child succeed. Make sure you can cheer her on daily for at least 3 months.

2. Teach on the Diaper Table

Familiarize your toddler with the toileting process while she is still on the changing table. Teach her the words and meanings of pee-pee and poo-poo as you change and clean her. Narrate the process with descriptive words, like wet, dry, wipe, and wash.

3. Raise Awareness

Continue teaching the bathroom process off the diaper table. Encourage your toddler to identify what happens when she becomes wet or fills her diaper. Tell her, "You went poo-poo in your diaper." Have her watch you flush it down the toilet.

4. Build Competency

Prepare your toddler to make the switch to the toilet with a gentle push to become more independent. Ask her to follow simple directions and do basic tasks on her own. Have her pull up her pants, put on her socks, or fetch a toy from across the room.

5. Stock Up on Supplies

Ready to officially start? First stock up with the right supplies. Buy a potty chair, training pants, pull-up diapers, and big kid underwear. Elastic-waist pants and loose dresses can allow you child to undress on her own when she needs.

6. Make the Connection

Condition your child to associate the potty chair with the feeling of needing to use the bathroom. If your child signals a need to use the bathroom or looks like she needs to go, place her on the potty chair. Instead of asking if she needs to go, say, "Let's use the potty."

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7. Stay Positive

Help your toddler relax when she sits on the potty. Read books. Tell a story. Sing a song. Talk about her day. Calmly clean up accidents when they happen. Getting upset about an accident may discourage your child from the potty training process.

8. Allow Plenty of Bathroom Breaks

Encourage your kiddo to use the bathroom OFTEN. After waking up, use the bathroom. Before meals, use the bathroom. At bedtime and naps, use the bathroom. Nudge her to go at regular intervals, about every 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

9. Teach Him Restroom Etiquette

Potty training can be a messy business. Teach your child to be clean. Praise her for remembering to wipe herself and wash her hands. Make hand washing a fun part of the bathroom routine. Get a kiddie step stool to put by the sink. Buy colorful, kid-friendly soap.

10. Prepare Him for Naps and Trips

Regularly use diapers and pull-ups for naps and bedtime. Prepare for road trips by covering the car seat or using pull-ups. Frequently visit new bathrooms away from home to familiarize your child with potties everywhere!

11. Be Patient

Remember that toilet training is a process that takes longer for some kids than others. It will likely take 3 to 12 months for your child to use the toilet independently.

12. Know When to Stop

Take a break if your child has temper tantrums or frequently cries about toileting. Don't let yourself get angry. Adjust your approach when you reintroduce toilet training 1 to 3 months late.